House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-05 Daily Xml

Contents

Ministerial Statement

WOODVILLE WEST URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Today I joined the member for Cheltenham at the first concrete pour at the site of the $130 million Woodville West Urban Renewal Project. This is a significant milestone in this Housing SA project that will revitalise the former public housing-dominated precinct of Woodville West. Today's pour is not just the foundation of a building. It is the foundation of a new community—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Bragg!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —with new types of housing, new types of support and a greater mix of people, all located next to transport and services. The first stages of the development will include two apartment buildings with 45 units and will create The Square, which will be a multipurpose open space at the heart of this development. A further 24 properties will be constructed, including townhouses, cottages and loft apartments.

These buildings and capital works will be at the leading edge of sustainability and design, and over a third will be affordable sales and 15 per cent will be social housing. Twenty-two will have class C design features including wide doors, stepless entries and special bathrooms to make them fully adaptable for older people or those with disabilities.

This development has achieved a platinum rating against the SA Age Friendly Environments and Communities development guidelines. This will be a community that you can call home, and keep calling home, as your age or circumstances change.

Eight of the units will also showcase the latest in technology-based care systems for people with physical disabilities. For the first time in South Australia's history, these apartments will be wired to provide remote, in-home support that will boost the independence of the residents. All homes—

Mr Pengilly: It sounds like the Rocky Horror Show!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Well, doesn't that just show it. The member for Finniss says this is like the Rocky Horror Show.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! It was very audible. I heard the member for Finniss, and I hope he wasn't casting aspersions on the house.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: No, on this really important development, Madam Speaker. All homes will have a minimum six-star energy rating, and the development will include the latest in rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling, in conjunction with the Water Proofing the West initiative. Apart from housing, the central square will be surrounded by services, so that residents can walk or ride to their destinations—to school, to shops, to sport, perhaps even to work. There is a railway station that abuts the development, and the location also provides easy access to the city, AAMI Stadium and the beach.

Woodville West was made up of 184 homes, 143 of which were former Housing Trust properties. The project aims to deliver at least 428 new dwellings from apartments to family homes. Like the UNO apartments, Woodville West will create a mixed community—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —with social housing, affordable private rental, affordable purchase, and approximately half of that will be open market sales. This is a clear demonstration of the government's commitment to the vision of the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide to create mixed-use, high density developments with a greater mix of housing types and forms located along key transport corridors.

In what is a clear indication of the success of previous projects, interest has already been registered by about 200 prospective buyers, and off-the-plan sales are due to commence in the very near future.